Additional Resources for Planting and Maintaining a Naturalized Shoreline or Streambank Buffer

Native Plant Purchasing Information

Find out where to purchase Michigan native plants locally through the Michigan Native Plant Producers Association 

Shoreland Management/Riparian Buffer Information:

• Restoring the Shore on Michigan Inland Lakes - A Demonstration Project on the shores of Gull Lake in Kalamazoo County, MI.  This Web site also contains a number of additional useful web resource links.
• Shoreland Management Resource Guide - A Web site developed by the University of Minnesota

Learn how to build a naturalized shoreline/streambank buffer with the help of these resources:

• Restore Your Shore interactive CD-ROM
• Southeast Michigan RC&D Council - Contains information on streambank stabilization, using plant materials (soft engineering), including photos from demonstration projects completed in Lenawee, Macomb, St. Clair and Washtenaw Counties.
• Shoreline Alterations: Natural Buffers and Lakescaping (Minnestoa Department of Natural Resources) (file size 1.1m)
• Protecting Michigan's Vanishing Native Lakeshore (MSU-Extension) (file size 1.5m)
• Plants for Storm Water Design and Pollution Control (Minnesota Pollution Control Agency)

Invasive Species Information

• USDA Informational Web site
• MDNR Highest Priority Invasive Plants and Animals
• Michigan Sea Grant Informational Web site
• MDEQ Informational Web site
• Protect Your Waters initiative

Phragmites Control Resources

Aquatic Plant Managament (file size 395k)

• Common Aquatic Plants of Michigan (file size293k)
• Aquatic Nuisance Control Information (MDEQ)

Permit Requirements:

Not sure if your project requires a permit from the MDEQ? 

• Follow this flow-chart (file size 113k) to find out or click here for more information on permits needed for work at or near the water's edge.
• For clarification on whether or not you need a permit to do only shoreline plantings (excluding alteration, excavation, fill, dredge, etc.), click here (file size 332k).

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